Hello everyone, I was looking for some opinions on things to check out on this 1995 Miata I am going to look at and potentially buy. (maybe tonight, we will see)

I'm looking for a track car/drive sometimes. My goal is over 200 hp, eying the FM kit.

1995 $2,200 obo 165k miles

Here is the add:
http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/va...391609681.html


The car has been repainted and looks like a terrible job.
Interior is pretty hacked up but I am throwing most of it away anyways. (racing seats and trim is cheap and available everywhere)
Wheels and suspension are probably eBay specials, to be thrown away if so, haven't looked that hard yet.
No title in canada but I am from washington so getting it titled is not a problem.
Top is in good shape but the window is not, is this fixable without too much headache?

At what price is this a good deal? I have the ability to fix the car and a place to put it, so time/money and ability are not a concern but at the same time I want to pay fair price.


Here are some more pictures:

Trunk is haggard, what would make it this beat up?

 

and a broken mirror, that will be fun to match the paint...

 

I think you can have one in much better shape for that much money. That thing looks like a piece of **** inside and out.

 

I wouldn't pay a dime for that car. Walk away and keep looking.

 

Tops that that car is worth is $1000 if there is no rust.

Edit: i take it back... the trunk pics make it look like it was in a rear-ending. Car is worth $500

 

The car is worthless in Canada without a title and the buyer is more than willing to negotiate, which he has stated numerous times.

Even at say $1,000-$1,200 for a platform to start with?

I used to own a body shop so I don't care about the body and like said I will throw out the interior.

I am most interested in the drivetrain and it being a 94-95.

 

offer him $750. If he declines, walk away

 

I agree with shlammed, it defiantly looks like its been rear ended. If you really want to offer I'd go $500~700.

 

Keep in mind that the cheapest 94-95 Miata's in my area are going for $3,000. I'm not trying to defend this car by any means but the potential $2,000 difference in price can add a lot of FUN things to this car.

What are the biggest red flags to you guys? (obviously there are a lot of them but what are the main things that make it no good for future use, not neccessarily cosmetic issues)

Edit: I just saw the rear ended posts, good eye. I will do a close inspection when I am there.

 

Run away!

 

Red flags:
paint-looks like dick
battery: isnt correct-what else was cheaped out on
rear end damage-obvious
needs a new top
looks like it was in a flood-probably the top issue
interior bits are rusty-confirms the flood
whats going on with the heater core lines?

 

ac goodies are missing
looks like a leaking radiator
and the thing looks like a ******* bum lived in it. How do you let a car be so disgusting

 

[QUOTE=shlammed;732973]Red flags:
paint-looks like dick
/QUOTE]

 

Other than the heater lines and radiator cap, the engine bay actually looks pretty clean.

What the little ball-thing with the silver center just in front of the drivers right knee?

Respray was done in somebody's backyard... I'd hate to see what was under all that paint.

I see the little bungs for the AC evaporator in the firewall, but clearly no compressor/condensor/lines, and no dash-button.

If it runs and drives safe, for $1k it'd make a decent 30mpg DD after you fixed ****, but I would not buy this car as a starting point for mods.

I'd actually give him $1k and then part it out... if it's a Torsen, the drivetrain is worth that much... other stock part-out means you can make some money.

The sweet Nanking tires fetch a premium the week before Race-Wars!

 

Yeah, ripe for a part-out if you can get it for under $1k. Otherwise, all those little things that seem pretty minor when considered individually are going to add up if you want to fix them.

Start with a cleaner car. You'll spend less getting a clean shell and swapping in a 1.8 drivetrain (unless that's illegal there*) than starting with a beat-to-hell 1.8 car like that.







*EDIT, You mentioned Canada and I was thinking you lived there...whoops.

 

If it was hit that hard in the back end it will not drive straight going down the road. It will probably eat tires. The interior fan switch is for a non-AC car, but this car had AC once upon a time. No title probably means salvage or certificate of destruction was issued. Worth $150 in scrap once you take the seven worthwhile bits of it.

 

It's amazing how much I got out of posting this in a few hours. Leave it to the experts to quickly see things in pictures that I would have missed in person. Thanks for all the help, keep it coming if you see anything else. This just gets me more excited to get started on a miata project having so many knowledgable people to ask questions and share ideas with.

 

After waiting at customs for 2 hours at the Canadian border and $750 later...
I am a proud member of the Miata community!

The car ran great, was very smooth. All 6 gears shifted smoothly and the car drove good for the 55 mile trip back home. I took several back roads and got her sideways every chance I got, it was raining up here in the pacific northwest (what a surprise).

The paint still looks like dick, but it's almost so bad that it looks like it was meant to be a flat black and at least it's consistant (ly bad). It looks fine...from 30 feet

I already have new Sparco's to replace the old ratty seats.

The car has not been rear ended, it's more like the previous owner regularly dropped heavy **** into the trunk.

The top is in great shape but the window has tears in it. Is this fixable? Is there any way to cut out the old window and stitch in a new one?

Now I will start a build thread... I'm excited.

Thank you again for all the help, I probably would have paid $1500 for this car had I not been a member on here, so for your help, I will spend $750 on here buying parts for it. Actually it will probably be a lot more than that...

EDIT: Forgot to add that the car has a brand new Tokico HP Shock/Strut suspension kit with lowering springs. Not the best setup on the market but it will get me by just fine for the time being.

 

Tear out the interior, rent a steam cleaner with a wand, and clean for a few hours.

Replace the trim around the CD player as it is all fubar'd.
Install the cluster cover
Fix your trunk hole.
Get some racelands and XXR's and drift that ****. I know you like drifty.

 

Looks good next to big black...